Month: October 2022

We understand that job interviews can be quite nerve-wracking. But they’re also the gateway to your dream career! Whether you’re new to the job market or looking to switch careers, honing your interview skills is key. In this blog, we’ll show you tips and tricks on augmenting your abilities and skills, and help you ace common interview questions so you can make a great impression and increase your chances of getting your dream role. 

Follow this article, and no matter the interview questions, you will be able to successfully crack your job interview! 

What are the successful strategies to crack job interviews?

As a fresher, interviews can be painfully stressful. Especially when there’s no one to guide you through the insane amount of preparation you’re stuck with the day before. To make your life easier, we’ve noted down the most important strategies and interview tips for freshers before the D-day.

1. Research about the company

   Research is one of the most important interview skills you must develop. You have to research about the company you are applying to and about the position they are offering you. Things you should keep in mind when researching for a new job interview or considering a prospective offer:

   • Your goals and expectations v/s the roles and responsibilities of the position you’re applying for.
   • Salary, this is very important. Your future employer has to match or come in a reasonable range of what you’re asking for.
   • If the position has had a high turnover rate, i.e many people leaving the role, then try to find out why that is the case and more about this position. Sites like Glassdoor are great places to check the company’s rating.
   • You should browse through these sites to get an overall idea of what the company culture is like. If possible, reach out to existing or ex-employees and ask more about the company.
   • Now if you’re sure you want to apply for this job role, your next step should be to not just research but to also learn about the company and its products/services/new launches.
   • Going further to learn about the company, check for any news about the company and go through their social media pages. The more you know about the company the more it will impress your future employers. And higher the chance of you having the best interview of all time.

2. Utilise the STAR method

   When it comes to answer situational questions (like how have you handled conflicts in projects) during your job interview, the STAR method will help you structure your answers better. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. Explain the Situation, list down your Responsibilities or Tasks, then talk about the Actions you took and finally the Result of your actions.

3. Dress to impress

   Or as we like to call it dress well – test well. This obviously doesn’t mean you go out of your budget for the interview. But on the day of your interview ensure you’re well groomed and presentable by the company’s standards.

4. Appear Confident

   Dressing well is only the first step to impressing your interviewers, if you don’t appear confident, all your prep is going to fall flat. Your confidence should be reflected not just in your answers, but also in your body language.

5. Ask questions

   Once your interviewer is done questioning you, ensure you ask questions about the company or your job or your team. Asking the right questions is one of the most important interview skills you could teach yourself. The interviewer will feel that you actually care about the job and you’ll get to learn about your prospective team well in advance. It’s a win-win.

6. Follow up

   After your job interview, it is possible you won’t hear back from the company on the promised date; in that case follow up with them. Either via email or via call if you have the number. If they haven’t made a decision on the position yet, you will definitely be at the forefront of their potential candidates.

   Also Read : Resume Guide for Freshers

Common Interview Questions (with answers too!)

It is hard to predict the exact questions your interviewer will ask you during your interview, so if we had to, we would place our bets on these commonly occurring interview questions for students and freshers. Answer these well and you’ll learn how to crack interviews for sure!

1. Tell us about yourself.

   This is a very commonly asked interview question for students, and this is how you should answer it.

   Start by sharing a few details about where you’re from and what your background has been, where you studied etc. Then slowly transition into what your past work experience has been and what you have worked with in the past. Don’t add irrelevant details and drag the question on. It will create a bad impression on your part.

   Interview Hack: Use the Present Past-Future Rule to answer this question.

   • Start with what you’re currently doing in your career and add some examples or quantifiable details of your work.
   • Refer back to your Past and show your recruiter how it shaped your decisions.
   • Before you end the answer, throw in a bit about what your future aspirations are and how the company can help you get there.

   Another alternative interviewers take to ask this question is “Walk me through your resume” in which case you should talk less about your personal life and elaborate more on the achievements you’ve added on your resume.

Also Read : Guide On Strengths and Weaknesses To Crack Your Job Interviews

1. Why do you want to work for this company?

   Remember all that research we asked you to conduct in the earlier section?

   Use that to answer this question! Talk about how the company can help you achieve your goals or how your vision/goals align with the company’s goals. You can also add what work of theirs impressed or fascinated you. If they have published research work, talk about what aspects you liked about it. If you have friends within the company, you can talk about how you heard about the company’s culture and ethics and how you would want to be a part of it.

   However, don’t go overboard with the praises and make it come across as fake (should you choose to fake it till you make it).

2. Tell me about a time you overcame a challenge.

   This is the most perfect opportunity you can find to demonstrate your skills through a story.  Use the STAR method we spoke about earlier to give an added punch to your answer.

   • Situation

     Talk about a situation you faced in your previous job or in college. Did you ever work with super tight deadlines? Brownie points if it’s a team project.

   • Task

     How were you responsible for the project? What was your role in the story?

   • Action

     What measures did you (specifically) take to ensure that your project met the deadline? How did you make a difference?

   • Result

     Finish with the resulting outcome. Now ideally your story should end positively, however if it didn’t have a positive outcome talk about the lesson you learnt in the process.

   You can use this method to answer other differently worded questions like, “Can you work under pressure?” Or “talk about a setback or failure you faced.”

3. Will you be able to work overtime or relocate should we ask you to?

   This is a very tricky answer with no “correct” answer. But our advice would be to answer truthfully and not say ‘yes’ to simply please your employers. Answer ‘Yes’, ‘No’ or even ‘Maybe’ based completely on your preferences and your situation. Just be sure to back up your answers with legitimate reasons.

4. What are your Salary expectations?

   Another very important but very tricky question that you will be asked. And there is no doubt about this, at some point you will have to discuss your salary expectations with your future employers. These are the ways you go about this conversation:

   • You can ask your interviewer what their budget is and what they would be willing to offer you, to better understand the situation.
   • Take into account your living expenses, any other financial goals of yours before you agree to anything.
   • Don’t just quote a random figure, take into account your experience, how much the average person in your field makes, etc. If you have any other invaluable qualities then take that into account as well.

   This is a difficult situation to navigate, especially if you aren’t used to talking about compensation or money in general. But you have to remember that you are a hundred percent within your rights to ask for a fair salary that meets your needs.

   You should be covered with the above questions, but go the extra mile to prepare for any unconventional interview questions the interviewer could ask you. You’ll thank yourself later!

Also Read : List of 10 best paying jobs in India

Types of Interviews

Depending on the company you apply for, there is a set pattern for the way interviews are conducted. These are possible types of rounds you could have during the entire interview process:

• Personal Interview

  Your personal interview concerns all things you! You can expect questions about your life, your past career experiences, projects you might have worked on, the skills or tools you’ve picked up and so on and so forth. In the previous section, we have covered the different types of questions you could be asked.

• Group Discussion

  In places where multiple candidates are interviewed for the same role, they hold group discussion rounds to test public speaking skills, confidence, general knowledge, and other soft skills. If the group discussion is domain-specific, they would also be looking out for your subject matter expertise.

• Technical Round

  This is also carried out one-to-one or sometimes in larger organisations, an entire panel of interviewers take interviews. In the technical interview, they will purely test your domain knowledge in a particular subject. So be sure to prepare relevant subjects before your interview. If your field of choice requires domain expertise, you will not get the job without it.

There are other interview rounds as well, but these three are the most commonly occurring ones. In either case, remember to centre your answers around the company and their needs along with small anecdotes about yourself.

Final Thoughts (and tips)

Mastering interview skills is a crucial milestone. With the right preparation and mindset, you can turn interviews from anxiety-inducing experiences into opportunities to shine! Remember, every interview is a chance to showcase your unique skills, personality, and potential. Just be confident in yourself and your interview skills.

If you would like more help, check out our Placement Plus Program! This can help you crack job interviews and help in perfecting your interview skills through mock interviews, resume building workshops and more. Your dream job is waiting for you! 

Also Read : Things To Do Before and After the Interview Process

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is one of the best ways to improve your interview skills? 

A: One of the best ways to improve your interview skills and crack job interviews is through repeated practice. Practise mock scenarios with your colleagues, friends or family to get feedback and refine your responses. This practice will help you become more comfortable with the interview process and better articulate yourself in stressful situations. 

2. How to improve your interview skills and beat the competition? 

A: To improve your interview skills and stand out from the competition, you should, firstly, research the company thoroughly. This will aid you better prepare for common interview questions that are likely to be asked. Then you can showcase your soft skills, such as communication and problem-solving. Moreover, dress professionally and maintain good posture while answering. Lastly, try out mock interviews as they are really helpful in upskilling yourself and feeling more confident in your capabilities.  

3. Why is it important to improve your interview skills ? 

A: Improving your interview skills is vital because job interviews are the gateways to career opportunities. A strong interview performance can be the deciding factor in securing a job offer. 

4. What is the purpose of an effective interview?

A: The purpose of an effective interview is to assess a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and fit for a specific job and company. Employers use interviews to determine if an applicant has the right expertise and personality for the job.

You know what really is a universal language, not just for humans but for animals too?

Body Language. 

We’ve used body language since the dawn of time to effectively survive the wild. We might be in a concrete jungle now but the rules of effective communication remain the same. We are constantly judged based on our body language, so it’s safe to say that positive body language is a very powerful tool that will get people to understand you and make a good impression on them. Especially when it comes to cracking those interviews, the effective use of body language can make all the difference.

But first let’s explain body language, starting with the definition of body language.

What is body language in communication?

Bodies speak volumes about their owners and are oftentimes the key to discovering the other person’s intentions, emotions and state of mind. Our bodies often perceive the opposite person’s body language sub-consciously and react automatically. If someone is being increasingly aggressive towards us, we tend to assume a defensive stance without putting much conscious effort. This is because we are hardwired to feel threatened in such situations and our body feels a strong urge to protect itself. 

On the other hand, if you’re in the position of the aggressor, you will find your face flushed red – due the increase in heart rate, you will start to breathe more deeply to increase air intake, your fists will clench in anticipation of a fight and you will start to speak in a higher volume. These traits have been passed down to us through evolution. And all of these symptoms have a definite purpose in preparing our bodies for a fight. Although this much aggression is unlikely to occur in our workplaces (unless your boss is truly terrible or maybe you’re the truly terrible boss 🙃). 

These were just some of the examples of how we make use of body language in communication – you might recognise some of them as signs you’ve witnessed in yourself or in the people around you. 

The role of body language in communication

Science has proven that more than tone of voice and choice of words, people pick up on our body language. Humans are hardwired to catch unspoken cues from the body language of the person opposite us. Just because the person opposite you is talking in a loud voice, you won’t automatically take it as a threat, probably because their body language is telling you that they are being open and friendly. 

Even if you aren’t someone who is used to looking out for vital information in other people’s body language, keep in mind that other people are looking at your body language all the time. Keeping a check on your body language will greatly improve your perception in other people’s eyes – people including your future recruiters and managers (should you land the job). 

For example, we all know confidence is the key to acing any interview. And while we are confident in what we speak, we often fail to appear confident overall – which doesn’t bode too well with future recruiters who are used to keeping an eye out for leg bouncing, defensive and closed postures, guarded or nervous expressions, even clenched fists will alert them to any inconsistencies in our communication.

When our body language becomes our enemy

Effective body language is the key to successful communication, but sometimes over-communication is also a bad thing. We have to find a balance, so that we don’t reveal too much. Here are some examples of what negative body language includes:

Boredom

• Unfocused vision or staring into space
• Tapping or drumming your fingers
• Doodling or writing random things
• Hand on cheek 

Nervousness

• Leg bouncing
• Clenched fists
• Furrowed brow
• Closed or tight body language (hunched shoulders, arms crossed)

Agitation

• Clenched fists
• Raised eyebrows
• Flared nostrils
• Flushed cheeks
• Tense body language over all

Other negative body language signs

• Nail biting
• Rapid blinking
• Locked ankles

How to develop positive body language

Earlier we mentioned that a lot of our body language is subconscious and takes place without us noticing. But not all is lost. The only reason they go unnoticed is because we aren’t used to controlling them. Once we become aware of what we are doing, we can immediately put a stop to it. That’s not all. Apart from controlling our negative body gestures, we can consciously maintain a positive body language to reinforce feelings of trust, safety and interest in the other person. 

Once you start gaining more self awareness, you can actually work on our positive body language skills in the long run. Positive body language is effective in reassuring the other person and making them feel secure enough to drop their guard and have an open conversation with you. 

Here are some positive body language examples you can apply in specific situations:

Meeting someone for the first time

• Keep an open posture and avoid crossing your arms
• Give a firm handshake to greet the other person (don’t crush the other person’s hand though 😬)
• Maintain direct eye contact with the other person (with adequate breaks to not freak them out).
• Do not touch your face while answering any questions (you may come across as dishonest)
• If you’re standing close, make sure to keep some personal space (don’t be creepy).
• Most importantly, smile!

For Effective Public Speaking

• Maintain a confident posture (head held high, shoulders dropped, arms not crossed, overall open body)
• Use your hands gestures to communicate 
• Keep your back straight and don’t slouch (this will help you with voice modulation as well.)
• Look over at your audience when addressing them

Body language around the world

We live in a global community with opportunities in every part of the world. Moving out and starting over is hard enough but with the added layer of communication problems – life does not feel kind. If you’re planning to ever apply for a job outside your home country, you have to be all the more mindful of your hand gestures.

Hand gestures are universally accepted as one of the key aspects of body language. They have been used for communication since the time of evolution, and are diverse as the number of cultures that have come into being. Positive gestures that signify one thing in your culture or your part of the world can mean something entirely different in other regions. In some cultures, bowing your head is considered the appropriate way to greet someone, opposed to the typical firm handshake followed in many western cultures. 

It is important to know about the cultural impact certain hand gestures have in certain places. Using incorrect or sometimes inappropriate gestures can lead to misunderstandings or maybe lead the other person to even take offense.

Have a look at some of the craziest differences in hand gestures around the world. 

• In Russia, it is customary to count numbers starting with your palm open, counting down with the pinky first. So the number 5 is represented with a closed fist.
• Peace signs have taken over the world. However, in the UK, there is only one acceptable way to make one, with the inside of your palm facing outwards. Holding two of your fingers up and showing the back of your hand is considered a very rude gesture.
• Doing a thumbs up in Iran is considered very offensive and most definitely won’t convey the message of everything being alright. 

And these were just the tip of the iceberg. There are millions of body language gestures around the world in different cultures. It is virtually impossible to know all of them beforehand. But taking some time to learn about these things could help you fit in easily, were you to ever travel to a different country or meet someone from a different cultural background.

Conclusion

Effective communication is composed of both verbal communication as well nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication or body language takes into consideration facial expressions, posture, hand gestures, eye contact and much more, and these are just as vital (if not more) than what we have to say. With effective body language, we can avoid misunderstandings, create a positive impression and even make a lasting connection in our personal and professional lives. 

All it needs is some practice and self-awareness 🤭

Hope you found these tips on positive body language useful. If you’d like us to cover more examples of body language in communication, let us know in the comments below.